Court Ceremony of the Kazakh Khans in the Eyes of a European: The Court of Abulkhair in the Diary of John Castle

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Author(s)

en Vasilyev, Dmitry Valentinivich

en Mazaev, Nikita Andreevich

Васильев, Дмитрий Валентинович

Мазаев, Никита Андреевич

Title

Court Ceremony of the Kazakh Khans in the Eyes of a European: The Court of Abulkhair in the Diary of John Castle

Alternative Title

Придворный церемониал казахских ханов глазами европейца: двор Абулхаира в дневнике Джона Кэстля

Publication Type

Journal Article

Language

rus

Number of Pages

9

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31250/2618-8619-2021-4(14)-19-27

Location

Russia

Keywords

travel diary

rites and rituals

Kazakh steppe

Abulkhair

Abulkhair

Relevance to ICH Safeguarding

identification

documentation

definition

ICH Genre

social practices

rituals

festive events

ICH in general

others

Description

In 1736, English traveler and artist John Castle visited the domain of Abulkhair, the Khan of the Junior Zhuz. In his diary, he described the entire way from Orenburg to the Khan’s lands and back. This text is not only a source on the ethnography of the Kazakhs, but also a detailed description of 'Oriental' diplomatic rituals through the eyes of a Western person. Castle had to interact with the members of the Khan’s family and his close associates, as well as with ordinary Kazakhs. Obviously, this required not only knowledge of local customs, but also that of diplomatic etiquette, as well as perseverance and advanced situational thinking. Another, no less important, aspect of diplomatic relations was the food served at official receptions. The traveler managed to convey not only its descriptions, but also, more importantly, how and in what quantity it was prepared, the sequence of dishes, who took part in banquets, what role the Khan played in them, and also what place and role was assigned to the foreign envoy. Castle’s accuracy and eye for details gives an opportunity to look behind the scenes of the official side of the diplomatic ritual and understand the Khan’s perception of his allegiance and attitude toward the Russian Empire and the Empress through the manner of his speech, listening and behavior. Thus, the diary of the English artist and traveler John Castle allows us to look at the Russian-Kazakh diplomacy of the 1730s through the eyes of a foreigner, as well as to consider its essence and character.

Book/Journal Title

en Kunstkamera

Кунсткамера

Publisher

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

Place of Publication

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Date of Publication

2021

Issue

4(14)

Pages

19-27

ISSN

2618-8619

Academic Field

Traditional culture

Cultural Studies

Community/Ethnic Group

Nothern Kazakhstan

Contributor

Kazakhstan National Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Active Contribution

Kazakhstan, FY 2023